Page 54 of Enigma (Pros and Cons Mysteries #6)

F ifteen minutes later, they met Trick and Tevin at a gas station on the outskirts of Oasis.

Mitzi briefed them on the warehouse, the ambush, and the radio conversation with the woman who might be Olive’s mother. Both men listened without interrupting, their expressions growing grimmer with each detail.

“So we’re heading into what could be another trap,” Trick said when they finished. “And we still don’t know if Lloyd’s alive.”

“It’s the best lead we have,” Jason said. “And if that really was Olive’s mother on the radio, then waiting isn’t going to make things safer for any of us.”

They left to head to the location they’d found on the GPS.

They took two vehicles—Jason, Olive, and Mitzi in the SUV, while Nova, Tevin, and Trick followed in Tevin’s sedan.

The coordinates led them through increasingly rural territory, past abandoned farmhouses and empty fields that stretched endlessly under the star-filled Texas sky.

The address turned out to be a large ranch-style house sitting alone on at least ten acres of scrubland. A long gravel driveway led from the county road to the house, with no other structures visible in any direction.

“Middle of nowhere,” Olive murmured. “Perfect for privacy.”

They parked about a quarter mile away and approached on foot, using a small rise in the landscape to observe the house without being seen. Two vehicles sat in the circular driveway—a dark sedan and a white panel van.

“Lights are on in the front rooms.” Mitzi adjusted her binoculars. “I can see movement inside, but I can’t identify how many people.”

“Do we go in hard and fast?” Trick asked. “Or do we watch and wait?”

Jason studied the house through his own binoculars. “If Dad’s in there, going in shooting could get him killed. But if we wait too long, they might move him again.”

“Or they might already know we’re coming,” Olive pointed out. “After what happened at the warehouse, they might assume we’ll follow the trail here.”

“So what’s the call?” Tevin asked.

Before anyone could answer, the front door of the house opened, and they all froze.

A figure stepped onto the porch, scanning the surrounding area.

Even at this distance, even in the dim porch light, Olive recognized her immediately.

“Elena,” she breathed.

The woman stood on the porch for nearly a minute, her gaze sweeping across the landscape. She seemed to be looking directly at their hiding spot, though Olive knew that was impossible at this distance.

“She knows we’re here,” Mitzi said.

“Maybe. Or she’s just being careful.” Jason lowered his binoculars. “Either way, we need to make a decision.”

“We split up,” Olive said. “Half of us follow Elena if she leaves, half stay to watch the house.”

“I don’t like splitting the team.” Trick’s expression hardened at the thought.

“Neither do I, but we can’t let her disappear again,” Olive said. “She’s the key to all of this.”

As if summoned by their conversation, Elena walked to the white panel van and climbed into the driver’s seat. The engine started, and she began backing out of the driveway.

“She’s moving,” Jason said. “We need to go.”

Olive was already moving back toward their vehicles. “Jason, Mitzi, and I will follow Elena. The rest of you watch the house and see if you can determine if Lloyd’s inside.”

They reached their SUV just as Elena’s van turned onto the county road, heading back toward town. Jason started the engine and pulled out after her, keeping his distance and driving without headlights until they were sure she hadn’t spotted them.

“Where do you think she’s going?” Mitzi asked from the back seat.

Olive watched the van’s taillights ahead of them and frowned. “I don’t know. But wherever it is, I have a feeling we’re about to get some answers.”